I have seen the UK really open its arms to the notion
of social enterprise and not only because it’s the right thing to do.

The UK
is becoming a hot spot for social entrepreneurs around the globe. Not only are
funds available but networking organizations are now popping up all over the
UK. I have also noticed leading VCs around the world, especially in the Silicon
Valley (for example, Catamount Ventures who are a dream team) investing in social impact
businesses which are performing extremely well. I also see an important
development in entrepreneurship. Unlike banking, entrepreneurs are thinking
about how they can make money while making a difference. It seems it’s not only
the right thing to do but the innovative and forward thinking way of
entrepreneurship.

I am co-founder (with my
husband Paul Walsh) of MetaCert, a for-profit company that provides products and services for family safety
online. Protecting children from harmful content is not only important but key
in how they exist online and interact with others through various devices. This
for me is an example of how to make a difference in the world leveraging smart
technology and making it accessible to those who need it.

TNW: Which businesses are you currently involved with?

SMW: I am very focused
on developing MetaCert on a global level and ensuring it is available across
all devices in all schools. We have a chance to really impact youth in a
positive way and to allow parents to make choices about how they want to browse
the internet.

My role as Deal Maker for the UK Trade and Investment’s Global
Entrepreneur Programme has evolved with me spending more time in the Silicon
Valley. I am able to engage with a lot of innovative entrepreneurs who are choosing to
go global from the UK.

My special focus is on developing Shanti Life (formerly
called Shanti Microfinance) – this is our way of sharing our entrepreneurial
skills and resources with the poor in slums and villages in India. We provide
sizable loans to the poor so that they can develop sustainable businesses.
Through mentoring and training the beneficiaries are learning about financial
literacy, savings and how to go to market. All repayments and interest (capped
at 12%) is recycled into further loans. Our goal is to alleviate communities
out of poverty so that they can get out of the loan cycle. Some of the
communities where we work have no access to sanitation facilities and clean
drinking water. We have recently funded the building of eco-sanitation toilets
and washing facilities and we are developing partnerships to ensure access to
clean drinking water is accessible. This in turn will help decrease water
related illness’s such as dengue fever and result in better work productivity.

TNW: How have things progressed with
your own ventures?

SMW: The world of social
entrepreneurship is exciting and challenging. We are progressing well and
measuring not only revenues and technological advancement but also social
impact, accessibility and life case examples of how our efforts are making a
difference.

TNW: How exactly do you/your
ventures encourage more women to become entrepreneurs?

SMW:

I like to
ensure that our ventures enable all genders, races and ages to engage.

On a day-to-day
basis I do a lot of mentoring with young people with Berkeley Haas Business
School, London School of Economics, University of Alberta and Start Up
Edmonton.

TNW: Can you point to some real progress
and cases where womens’ lives have been changed through your ventures?

Yes, one example is the Ahmedabad Sewing School in Vatva. The community in the Vatva area are the poorest of the poor who
lost everything in fires during the 2002 riots. The area is heavily polluted with industrial waste
and water is not drinkable.
Illiteracy and lack of skills results in extreme poverty and
poor living conditions. We are creating a sewing school and hiring a trainer so that women can own their own
machines and start work immediately. Finished goods will be sold locally and through the
Shanti Life online marketplace.

Another example is the rickshaw project in the slums in Ahmedabad
and Baroda.

Microfinance is more easily made
available to women, but their husbands
also want to provide for their families.

Driving a rickshaw is a good way to do this. Though many
families flock to cities where they hope they can get
access to more funds they either encounter dangerous
loan sharks and are left to beg.
A lot of them want to work but do not have the basic
funds to put a down-payment on a rickshaw and they
have little or no vocational skills. We supply microfinance
loans to the rickshaw drivers so that they can afford a
down-payment and eventually own their own rickshaw.
£250 will give a rickshaw driver freedom to work for
himself, access all necessary and legal paperwork and
provide for his family.

A couple we helped as part of this project, Apasana and Malek, lost
everything in the 2002 riots in a
fire. Their children were missing
for 10 days and with no identity
papers they were left with no
hope. Apsana is training to
learn microfinance accounting.
Malek has his own rickshaw
now and can make up to £8
per day as opposed to £4 per
day when leasing.
He is a positive role model for
others in the community and by
bringing his family together and
supporting them, he has
regained his dignity.

TNW: What kind of technology are you
most enthusiastic about and why?

SMW: There
is so much out there.

I am excited about social networks and platforms that
allow for open sharing, gathering awareness and building communities.

I really
am enthusiastic about the iPad and iPhone – the availability of so many apps
allow us to reach communities around the world, make purchases, donations and
share knowledge.

Mobile technology is by far the way of the future not only for
us in London or San Francisco but for people in villages in India who are able
to access important information like the price of crops, or sell their goods
via a global marketplace.

TNW: Have you come across any
exciting startups recently and what is it about them that appeals to you?

SMW: I
really think Give2Gether is going to be an exciting platform for crowdfunding
for good causes. Unexus.org are a cool
platform for sharing ideas and generating value. Jaxtr.com is going to change
the way people travel around the world and make calls. Redeem and Get will provide nice competition
for Groupon…there are so many cool start ups and dedicated entrepreneurs.

TNW: Do you have any role
models/mentors?

SMW: My parents are really my
mentors, they have worked against the grain from the day we became refugees
(from Uganda). They started a whole new life for my sister and I in Canada and
gave us so many opportunities. They took risks and taught us the discipline of
hard work, maintaining values and giving back to the community. Without them, I
don’t know where I would be – they are my best friends.

Gandhi is a role model who
reminds me to think about the bigger picture to practice patience and to never give up.

His teachings and his actions
impacted the world. “Be the change you
want to see” is a mantra I follow.

TNW: What does a day in the life of
Ms Sheetal Walsh, look like?

SMW: Nowadays we are
spending a lot of time in San Francisco and traveling back and forth to London
and India. There are no normal days and I love it. I do care about routine and generally wake up
to respond to emails from around the world, then I practice yoga or TRX
exercise which are my form of meditation. I spend the afternoons meeting with
entrepreneurs in the Valley, London or India – and all of them inspire me. We
always end the day being thankful with a home cooked meal!

TNW: Do tell us more about your yoga teaching and Shanti Life.

SMW: I have been practicing
yoga since 2005 and it has truly given me strength and grounding in ways I
never imagined. From a physical perspective I have never felt so grounded and
from a spiritual space

I really enjoy positive thinking, sharing and just
being.

My practice is most meaningful when I take it off the mat out of the
studio and into the real world. Maintaining good energy, thoughtfulness in
speech and action, and making a difference is what enables me to strive to
become a better person. Shanti Life is
the culmination of 17 years of working with finance, venture capital,
entrepreneurs, and global philanthropy. It is my recipe to work with the poor to
alleviate themselves out of poverty while contributing to their communities
through the creation of sustainable businesses.

TNW: What plans for the future?

SMW: My plans are to build my family with my
husband, enable safe browsing for kids around the world, impact villages and
slums positively through responsible microfinance and do lots of yoga!

TNW: What quote would you like to leave us with until the next time we
interview you?

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The NextWomen is a community of Investors, Entrepreneurs & Advisers. We build formats to support the growth of female entrepreneurs -from
startups to companies making millions. We provide access to capital, resources and networks,
offering our community a support infrastructure critical for success. Join the community too! - See more at: http://www.thenextwomen.com/about-us/contributors#sthash.9GODHllB.dpuf

The NextWomen is a community of Investors, Entrepreneurs & Advisers. We build formats to support the growth of female entrepreneurs -from
startups to companies making millions. We provide access to capital, resources and networks,
offering our community a support infrastructure critical for success. Join the community too! - See more at: http://www.thenextwomen.com/membership/sign-up#sthash.0ApND3BW.dpuf

The NextWomen is
a community of Investors, Entrepreneurs & Advisers. We
build formats to support the growth of female entrepreneurs -from startups to
companies making millions. We provide access to capital, resources and
networks, offering our community a support infrastructure critical for success.